Sideline Talk

NFL SUNDAY

September 11, 2005|By Staff Writers Alex Marvez & Charles Bricker and Material from other beat writers were used in this report.

AFC SOUTH

Preparing for his NFL debut, Houston backup defensive end Travis Johnson reminisced about his first start for FSU against Duke. "I don't know if we even put in our mouth-pieces and taped our ankles," Johnson said of FSU's 55-13 rout in 2001. "The Duke players told us, It doesn't matter what happens today because y'all are going to be working for us in a few years anyway. What's your SAT score?'''

AFC EAST

To emphasize the need to avoid another 0-4 start, Buffalo players were wearing T-shirts last week that had "Start fast" on the front and "Time to pay the Bills" on the back.

AFC NORTH

Cleveland coach Romeo Crennel was blunt about the so-so preseason performance of quarterback Trent Dilfer, who was acquired from Seattle last spring for a fourth-round draft choice. "If you want me to say Trent has lit it up, he has not," said Crennel, whose team plays Cincinnati today. "But Trent has provided the leadership we expected when we got him."

AFC WEST

Kansas City has to hope the surgery quarterback Trent Green recently underwent to repair a ruptured artery in his leg isn't a sign of things to come. The Chiefs have horrific depth with Todd Collins and Damon Huard behind Green, who will to start today against the New York Jets.

NFC EAST

In the span of two years, Dallas free safety Keith Davis has gone from being released after he was shot outside a topless bar to starting at free safety today against San Diego. Davis spent the 2003 season out of football but later received another chance from coach Bill Parcells and hasn't squandered it. "You do kind if root for kids like this," Parcells said.

NFC SOUTH

Atlanta coach Jim Mora can't contain his excitement about being able to host Philadelphia in his team's Monday night opener for reasons other than football. "There is a lot going on in the world right now," Mora said. "If we can provide a distraction for three hours and let people just let it out ... I get goose bumps thinking about running around the field in the Georgia Dome."

NFC NORTH

It seems like Chicago rookie quarterback Kyle Orton is being thrown to the wolves as he starts today at Washington, which fielded the NFL's top defense last season. But Bears wide receiver Mushin Muhammad was with Carolina in 2001 when Chris Weinke, who was the last fourth-round draft pick to start a season-opener, led the Panthers to an upset victory over Minnesota. "I always tell [young players], Don't be scared to be great,'" Muhammad said. "Don't be scared to make mistakes. Go out and play the way you learned how."

NFC WEST

Shawn Lynch, a Wellington graduate who has bounced from Kansas City to the Dolphins to Minnesota the past three seasons without playing a game, may start today for Arizona against the New York Giants because of injuries to Alex Stepanovich and backup Nick Leckey.

Material from other beat writers were used in this report. Alex Marvez can be reached at amarvez@sun-sentinel.com.